In keeping in line with my workout goals for the year, it only seemed appropriate to pick up a fun fitness challenge that would kick things into full swing.

Out of the many gym studios offering weight loss or body transformation programmes, I decided to try out the Ministry of Burn’s 6-Weeks Challenge. Not only was the studio quite new, but they offered rhythm cycling classes, or spin, a type of workout that I enjoy a lot.

The challenge conditions were simple: attend classes five times per week for six weeks. But was it as easy to get myself to the gym that many times within a week?

A nice surprise occurred at the end of January, when an old contact got in touch.

Instead of a social call, he was letting me know that I’d been selected as one of GetCraft’s 100 Influential Content Creators. The company was expanding to Malaysia and as part of their launch party, they were recognising 100 creative professionals for outstanding work. Personally, it was a small indication that my quest to become a good writer is on the right track.

Started by Patrick Searle (pictured above) and headquartered in Indonesia, GetCraft is a marketplace platform for content creators. Photographers, graphic designers, writers, videographers and especially social influencers are welcome to sign up on the platform and list their services for potential clients to browse.

I’m no fitness guru with a jaw-dropping, sculpted body. I’ve taken courses in nutrition and have been learning about fitness methods since I was in college, but that’s the extent of my expertise.

What I am is a real-life, average working Jane currently seeing changes to my physical health, particularly in response to rich food, late nights and other unhealthy habits that accompany a lifestyle writer/editor. In the past year, I’ve been working out more and have seen my metabolic system plod along sluggishly, even while making vast strides in core strength and overall endurance. That’s a rather sad side effect of getting older, but one has to adapt to those changes.

The first time I went to Galeri Petronas in Suria KLCC was out of curiosity, since I’d seen it umpteen times before — presumably always empty — and never went in, but came away quite impressed by the gallery contents. Since that first visit, I’ve been back three times because exhibits change within two to three weeks. I’ve seen an exhibit featuring Islamic influences in art, a showcase of the decay or the rise of cities in the world, as documented by various photographers, and most recently, an exhibit of #tanahairku, a street art project in KL sponsored by Petronas themselves.